To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary
First Test Tues., May 18, 2004
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1. aberration- a deviating from the right path or usual course of action: The fact that winter came too early in Maycomb was an aberration of nature.

2. acrimonious- bitter and sharp in language or tone; rancorous: At one point, the verbal exchange between the solicitor and his witness became acrimonious.

3. ambled- to walk slowly or leisurely; stroll: The people ambled across the square and shuffled in and out of the stores around it.

4. amiable- friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured and likable: Surprisingly, Atticus’s attitude towards the hostile witness was very amiable.

5. assuaged- 1. to make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe: assuage her grief. 2. to satisfy or appease (hunger or thirst, for example). 3. to pacify or calm : When Jem’s arm healed, and his fear of never being able to play football was assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury.

6. auspicious- attended by favorable circumstances; propitious: The remainder of Scout’s school days were no more auspicious than the first.

7. bouts- trial of strength or skill: Almost daily, Scout had bouts with her classmates.

8. brevity- 1. the quality or state of being brief in duration. 2. concise expression; terseness: The audience appreciated the brevity of the judge’s speech.

9. clad- past tense and past participle of clothe; what you wear: Everyone attending Calpurnia’s church was clad in black.

10. congenital- of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences: No public health officer could free the Ewells from congenital diseases.

11. decreed- something ordered or settled by authority; official decision: As the older brother, Jem decreed what he and Scout would do.

23. invective- a violent attack in words: The “N” word was one of the invectives that Scout learned on the first day of school.

24. malevolent- having or exhibiting ill will: The house looked so eerie that we were sure a malevolent phantom lived inside.

25.mausoleum- a large, magnificent tomb, especially one above ground: The general’s military victories were celebrated after his death by building a mausoleum in his honor.

26. mortification- a feeling of shame, humiliation, or wounded pride: Her mortification was increased by the teasing of her classmates.

27. obstreperous- loud or noisy: Te children were so obstreperous that the management asked them to leave the theatre.

28. palliation- lessen the severity of without curing: During the court proceedings, Calpurnia was a great source of palliation for the children.

29. perplexity- a perplexed condition; being puzzled; confusion: When she saw my perplexity, Miss Maudie tried to explain the issue more clearly.

30. predilection- a partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference: The Radley’s kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in our town.

31. quell- to put down forcibly; suppress: Scout was trying to quell her nausea by drinking lemon tea.

32. raling- an abnormal respiratory sound characterized by fine crackles: He coughed his dreadful raling cough, and was so shaken he had to sit down.

33. rectitude- upright conduct or character; honesty; righteousness: A sense of rectitude was the most important trait Atticus was trying to instill in his children.

34. rendered- 1. to submit or present, as for consideration, approval, or payment 2. to give or make available; provide: render assistance 3. to give what is due or owed 11. To cause to become; make: The sight of Boo on the porch rendered Scout speechless.

35. riled- to stir to anger: At one point, the verbal exchange between the solicitor and his witness became riled.

36. rudiments- part to be learned first; beginning: You must study the rudiments of football before you get out on the field to play.

37. squalid- dirty and wretched, as from poverty or lack of care: Surprisingly, Atticus’s attitude towards the hostile witness was very squalid.

38. succinct- characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: Atticus’s answer to my question was succinct and to the point.

39. temerity- foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness: He had the incredible temerity to challenge the judge’s decision.

40. transaction- 1. the act of transacting or the fact of being transacted 2. something transacted, especially a business agreement or exchange 3. communication involving two or more people that affects all those involved; personal interaction: A signed contract was the end product of their transaction.